What the word "Islam" means
In Arabic, "Islam" means surrender and submission, and it shares its root with "salam", peace. A Muslim is someone who turns to Allah alone, worships Him without partners, and follows what He commands.
Muslims believe Islam is not a new religion but the same message of One God taught by Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and the other prophets, peace be upon them, and completed with Muhammad ﷺ.
Tawhid: the heart of Islam
Tawhid is believing that Allah is One, without partner: He alone creates and runs all things, He has the most beautiful names and perfect attributes, and none but He deserves worship. Surah Al-Ikhlas sums it up:
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌQul huwa Allāhu aḥad. Allāhuṣ-ṣamad. Lam yalid wa lam yūlad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan aḥad.
Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. And there is none comparable to Him.
The five pillars of Islam
بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَالْحَجِّ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَIslam is built upon five: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, giving zakah, pilgrimage, and fasting Ramadan.
1. Shahada
Bearing witness, in heart and word, that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger. This is how a person enters Islam.
2. Salah (prayer)
Five daily prayers — Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha — a direct connection between a person and their Lord.
3. Zakah (charity)
A small share of wealth (usually 2.5%) given yearly to the poor and needy once savings reach a set minimum.
4. Fasting Ramadan
Abstaining from food, drink and other things that break the fast from dawn to sunset throughout the month of Ramadan.
5. Hajj (pilgrimage)
Pilgrimage to the Sacred House in Makkah, once in a lifetime for those able to make the journey.
The six pillars of faith
When the angel Jibril asked the Prophet ﷺ about faith, he answered:
أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ، وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ، وَكُتُبِهِ، وَرُسُلِهِ، وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ، وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِThat you believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers and the Last Day, and that you believe in divine decree, its good and its bad.
- Belief in Allah: His existence, oneness, names and attributes.
- Belief in the angels: beings created from light who obey Allah, among them Jibril, who brought revelation.
- Belief in the books: the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel, and the Quran — the last of them.
- Belief in the messengers: from Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus to the last of them, Muhammad ﷺ, without rejecting any of them.
- Belief in the Last Day: resurrection after death, the reckoning, Paradise and Hell.
- Belief in divine decree: Allah knows, records, wills and creates all things, while each person is responsible for their choices.
Ihsan: the highest level
أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَThat you worship Allah as though you see Him, and though you do not see Him, He sees you.
So the religion has three levels: Islam (outward practice), Iman (inner belief) and Ihsan (being mindful of Allah and doing everything with excellence for Him).
Frequently asked questions
What does the word Islam mean?
It means submitting to Allah alone in obedience, and it comes from the same root as "salam", peace.
What are the pillars of Islam?
Five: the testimony of faith, prayer, zakah, fasting Ramadan, and Hajj for those able.
What are the pillars of faith?
Six: belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree.
Is Islam a new religion?
No. Muslims believe it is the same message of One God brought by all the prophets, completed with Muhammad ﷺ.
Texts and translations are under scholarly review.